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Perception (Mile High Kites)

DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION
The only kite in the test with a really deep sail. This is a three-quarter version of the preceding Tracer design. The construction quality is good and the sewing clean, although it looks a little old-fashioned and heavy: a big nose made with heavy webbing, no Velcro at the tail, instead a bungee which lines can get caught on. The leading edge cut-outs are not hot-cut and there are no reinforcements at the top spreader/spine area. A cheap T-connector and no stops on the leading edge. The bridle is very long.

FLIGHT QUALITY
The first impression is ... noise from the trailing edge. Never seen on a trick kite. It flies slowly and is quite stable. Turns were clean and without detectable oversteer. Spins were large and the kite would lose height in a tight spin. It returned to its course perfectly when exiting a round turn.

FREESTYLE
The Perception is a master of the snap stall. It stops dead and seems to be glued to the spot. The standard axe is very simple to achieve and is nice and flat. The same goes for the rolling axel, which it does without the need for much speed. The kite does have a slight tendency to go onto its back, but it has the ability important for a beginner) to recover itself from any situation or position. A line rarely gets tangled around the wing4ips although it does more often around the tail. All the tricks in the book are down without problem turtle, Yo-yo, cascade, pancake. The coin toss demands care and a bit of work. The most difficult was a flat spin, which was hard to initiate.

VERDICT
We ... perceived the difference between a flatter kite and one with depth in the sail. This depth gives security in flight resulting in a kite that recovers more readily, without resulting loss in freestyle ability. A flat kite may be more radical, but will stall out more easily and crash out more. The noise is a shame as this friendly kite won our hearts. It perpetuates the tradition of the Tracer, considered by many as the first true freestyler.